??? for the attorneys and pastors here

[Margies3]

or anyone else who might really have knowledge about this............

Let's say a member of a congregation has done something very, very wrong (sexually). This person goes to the pastor in confidence and spills his guts - all the disgusting details. In the meantime, the police are called in (not by the pastor) and the person is arrested for their crimes. AFTER the police have arrested this person and taken them away, the pastor then files a written report with the police regarding what he knows about the situation.

My questions are several:
1) How much is the pastor OBLIGATED by law to put in his written report?
2) Should he even be filing a written report? Or does pastor confidentially exclude him from doing that?
3) Where is that "fine line" drawn in a situation like this?

I know that as a daycare provider if I know of abuse or neglect, I am obligated by law to call the authorities. But what I would know would not have been shared with me in the kind of confidential situation that a pastor/parishioner would share. So is there a difference?

Please don't think I am bashing any pastor here. I am simply asking a question. Thanks.